She smiled. “But back to Aric. All I did was help him out a little.”
“There was no need to invite those women. The only woman he wanted was right here.”
“It made him move, didn’t it?”
Aric’s arms tensed around her waist. He took the cookie tray from her hands and they continued to the table his parents stood chatting.
“Mom? Dad? What exactly did you do to help me out?” Aric asked as he placed the tray on the table.
Jordan watched Barbara smile and wink at her. “I only invited those women for you to choose from.”
Aric frowned. “But you just said you knew I wouldn’t want them, that I only wanted Jordan. So did you invite those women for me to choose one of them, or to push me into mating Jordan?”
His mother’s gave a slick smile. “Who cares? The outcome is what you wanted.”
Tristan laughed. Barbara pulled her husband along and made her way to the back entrance of the house.
Jordan grinned at how happy his parents still were even after over thirty years of marriage.
“Let’s go.” Aric’s eyes glowed the bright grey of his wolf.
“Where?”
“Run with me, baby.”
“Now?” She squealed, glancing at the house. “Are you sure we’re safe to be out there?”
“Yes. Those wolves that killed that girl were rogues, not part of any pack. They’re lawless and dangerous. My father put one of his enforcers to handle the case with the sheriff. She was human. It doesn’t stop here.”
She frowned. “Will the shifters get into trouble for that?”
“Not our pack. We protect humans. We have people in the department. They’ll smooth things over.” His lips tilted into a sexy grin. “Come on, I’ll protect you.”
“I know you will, but what if there are other people out there.” She motioned to the woods, still concerned that other rogues would be in the vicinity.
“This is private property. Our property. The only people in the area are part of our pack, and they don’t trespass.” He tugged her toward the trees.
She glanced around the forest, looking for people. “What about Caleb and his uncle? What happens with that?” She let him lead her further.
“That’s not over yet. Caleb has been given some time to deal with his uncle Rocco and take the control of his pack back. He needs to move. Rocco is known to hire rogues for his dirty deeds. Caleb has to take over.”
“And if he doesn’t?” She worried for Ellie. Now that she was happy, she wanted all her friends happy too.
He led her into the thick of the forest, where the sun had to fight to peek in through the branches. “We’ll step in. We don’t want to, which is why we’ve given him time.”
She gnawed at her lip. Her heart constricted for Ellie. Jordan knew things with Caleb’s pack were far from over.
He stopped short, turned, and cupped her face. “I want you.”
That’s all she needed to hear. All thoughts of the danger and negativity rushed out of her mind. She’d always want him and she was glad that he felt the same need for her. Fur pushed at her skin and she knew her own wolf wanted free.
The End
~ Keep reading for a bonus short ~
Milly Taiden writing as
April Angel
A Hero Scarred
Chapter One
Jessica Tavarez stared at her wine glass. If only it could solve all her problems. It didn’t even distract her enough to make her forget the hell she’d been living.
“Come on, Jessie. A getaway will be fun for you.” Kayla watched her from her seat on the other side of Jessie’s living room.
“I have to admit that she’s right.” Larissa nodded. “You need a vacation. And a nap. You’re cranky as hell.”
Jessie glared at her friends. “I’m not cranky. I’m just tired of the bullshit. I can’t believe I’m done with Dan. It feels like some other shit is gonna pop up at any moment.”
Larissa twisted a long, brown curl through her fingers. “Are there any other outstanding or pending items on the case?”
“No.”
“And all property is coming back to you.”
“Yeah.”
“So you’re done.” Larissa grinned. “I know with this hell you’ve been going through it feels like it’s too good to be true, but all evil, rotten things must come to an end.”
Maybe for others. It felt like she’d been dealing with this divorce way too long. “He has to move out of my house, and then it will sink in.”
“Yeah and then you won’t have to live in a rental when you own your own damn house.” Kayla tipped her wineglass and gulped down the rest of her drink.
Rissa nodded. “Now back to Kayla’s idea of a vacation.”
Jessie sighed. “I told you all I’m too busy.”
Kayla raised her brows. “You work with me. I already had some days scheduled for the new house. Come down with me again. We’ve been at the hospital a lot lately and I think you really need a break. Seeing patients day in and day out takes a toll on me as their therapist, I know it takes one on you as a volunteer.”
“The psychologist has spoken.” Rissa said.